7.1 Restaurant H, 13 rue Jean-Beausire in the 4th (Metro: Bastille), 01.43.48.80.96, closed Sundays and Mondays, has got to rank up there with the restaurants with the most minimalist façade and signage on the most minimalist unknown street in the 4th. It just shouts out "Enter and you shall encounter perfection." And you do. Like Pierre on Gambey and Spring, etc, yah takes what yah gets, here 3, 5 or 7 (dinner) courses for 30, 50 and 70 E.
We started off with one of those Porte 12 type presentations of specialty chips stuck into a bed of dried beans or such-like with two wines; why you might ask: Because like Jack Spratt & Co., one will drink no red and one no white.
For a first, we had nice warm pieces of lieu jaune with boule d'or (it sure sounded like Bulldog to me) turnips that were superb, albeit not captured by my camera; then a beautiful piece of veal, truly well-sourced and cooked with whole baby carrots and a carrot puree with kumquats, also missed by me; and then one of us had cheese and the other two a divine chocolate-caramel dessert; finishing up with marshmallows.
Our bill was 177 E with one coffee, super bread and funny butter, thus 118 E a couple.
Go back? I really think this ancient second of Akrame Benallal has got the makings of a great place on his hands but he needs to put his "soul on the plate" as someone puts it. Everything is perfect and as I have said about other places like it - "too perfect." How does one do it? I don't honestly know, but he's got a great start.
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